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County to consider top directors' contracts

El Paso County Commissioners on Monday will consider approving employment contracts for its two new top-level employees — criminal justice director and director of parks, recreation and tourism.

The county recently hired Michael Rodriguez to serve as its criminal justice director, who will oversee the newly created Office of Criminal Justice Coordination and lead the implementation of several reforms for the county's jail and courts system.

County officials have said the new office will help cuts jailing costs in part by helping reduce the time that people sit in jail before going to court.

The office will consolidate several pre-trial positions and, among other things, will work to conduct more thorough assessments of criminal history and mental health for people detained in El Paso. The office will also work to better monitor people who are released with conditions. Both initiatives aim to reduce recidivism, or rate of people who are arrested, released from jail and re-arrested.

Rodriguez's proposed contract is retroactive to Nov. 2 and would be continuous until either he or the county terminates employment. It includes a starting salary of about $115,500 a year and up to $5,000 in relocation expenses. He would report to the county administrator or a designee.

During her recent state of the county address, County Judge Veronica Escobar said the new approach of dealing with incarceration is more practical and just.

"It’s more humane and it is more reflective of the kind of organization that we are and the kind of community that El Paso is known to be," Escobar said.

Another key position will also oversee reforms and improvement in the county's quality of life programs.

The contract for Eric Storrie, the county's new director of parks, recreation and tourism, will also be considered for approval.

Storrie's employment was effective Oct. 5 and has a starting salary of about $100,800 and $5,000 in relocation expenses. His employment would also be continuous until either he or the county terminates employment

Storrie will oversee Ascarate Park, including its lakes, swimming pools and golf course, as well as the El Paso County Sportspark and several other community parks countywide.

The department has faced numerous challenges the past few years, including the delay of the reconstruction of the Sportspark and the arrest of some parks employees accused of embezzling county funds collected at its parks.

Cindy Ramirez may be reached at 546-6151; cramirez@elpasotimes.com; @EPTCindyRamirez on Twitter.